Khalil Mack Trade Will Sack Jon Gruden and the Raiders

Blockbuster trades in the National Football League often take years to fully analyze. But Sports Illustrated has already pronounced Saturday’s deal by the Oakland Raiders to send the best defensive player in the NFL, Khalil Mack, to the Chicago Bears for a pair of first-round draft picks as an epic failure for the Silver and Black.

Sure head coach Jon Gruden has the security of a 10-year contract, but S.I. points out that players like Mack often don’t fall in a team’s lap every decade.

“he insanity of this move is hard to fathom,” writes Conor Orr. “What are the odds that Gruden will select two first-round players who can average 12.5 sacks per season between them like Mack has over the last three years? How about three Pro Bowls in four seasons? How about two first-team All-Pro honors? How about one NFL Defensive Player of the Year award?”

Not to mention if Mack powers the Bears to a better record; then those draft picks are worth even less in comparison. Certainly any payoff will come too late for the fans in Oakland who will watch their team leave for Las Vegas in a few seasons. In gambling terms, this was a bad bet.